Where is Sovereignty?

Thursday - February 8, 2018

AFSI Looks Forward to Celebrating Israel's 70th Birthday in Israel with the AFSI Chizuk Mission from April 17-25, 2018. CLICK HERE FOR THE ITINERARY AND TO REGISTER

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Where is Sovereignty?

AFSI has reported on the recent, and much overdue, legalization of Havat Gilad. This area of Judea and Samaria was established in 2002 in memory of Gilad Zar, son of Moshe Zar and security coordinator of the Shomron Regional Council, who was shot and killed in 2001.

It took the death of a Jew , Rabbi Raziel Shevach, z"l, in order for the Israeli government to finally legalize Havat Gilad on February 4, 2018. Why didn't Israel exercise its sovereignty on legalizing Havat Gilad years ago?

Now Netiv Avot is now facing destruction. Will it, God forbid, take the death of another Jew in order for the Israeli government to stop the destruction of Jewish property?

Read Helen Freedman's letter below as she expresses AFSI's views on this subject .

Letter to the Israeli Knesset

Gentlemen,

We applaud your decision to legalize Havat Gilad and other such communities. We also join you in the condemnation of yet another brutal terrorist murder, that of Rabbi Itamar Ben Gal.

HOWEVER another tragedy is about to occur - this time at the hands of the Israeli government. I am referring to the planned demolition of 16 homes in Netiv Avot. You know the details of the dispute so there is no need for me to repeat them. This puts a scar of shame on the face of Israel. We either embrace all our brethren in the Jewish homeland, or we have made a mockery of Israel's purpose. The Supreme Court decision is biased, ignorant, unwarranted, and cruel. It must be overruled.

PLEASE do everything in your power to avert the severe decree.

Helen Freedman

Thanks to AFSI

AFSI is proud to have its name cited favorably in media sources.

Lori Lowenthal Marcus, when asked about groups that supported her during her seven year effort to get a 501C3 tax exempt status for her pro-Israel organization, Z Street, from the Obama government, gave credit to AFSI for standing by her . She did it in an interview with Phyllis Chesler and also in a radio interview. We thank Lori for acknowledging AFSI, and remind our readers that AFSI always stands up for what is right, regardless of politically correct or mainstream views. Time, inevitably, proves us correct.

Worth Repeating

"When the refugee card began to wear thin, the Palestinian terrorist appeared on the scene flourishing not the arguable claims of displaced refugees but of a ghoulish nationalism that could only be sated on the corpse of Israel."

This quote is from a New York Times article dated January 24, 1976 written by former Prime Minister Golda Meir. Sadly, her words still ring true and illustrate how between then and now - nothing has changed.

Unspoken Atrocities - Who is Leading?

As financial aid continues to be funneled to the Palestinians, we know the money fails to reach the one place it is sorely needed and that is for the welfare of the "Palestinians".

An article in Gatestone Institute written by Khaled Abu Toameh clearly discusses this blemish.

While their leader Mahmoud Abbas speaks before parliaments and assemblies of many countries, his own people in Syria and the Gaza Strip are being killed due to senseless fighting and dying because of a lack of food and medicine. Hospitals are running short of fuel needed to keep operating.

How is it that Mahmoud Abbas spent $50 million on a new "presidential plane" ? A leader should take responsibility for the needs of his people first. Enough said.

Start with Comey. End with Obama.

AFSI Chairman Mark Langfan's Arutz Sheva article this week focuses on the " House Intelligence Committee’s “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses (FISA)," which outlines explicit prima facie criminal behavior that starts with former FBI Director James Comey and seems to end with President Obama. It may be the greatest subversion of the US Constitution ever, one that will expose the United States to necessary additional independent prosecution to unravel and uncover a far-reachi ng Obama Administration criminal enterprise."

Yasher Koach Mark for another insightful article on pressing issues that matter.

Letter to the Editor - The NY Post - February 8, 2018

Poland Attempting to Re-Write History -

Cleansing Itself of its Crimes Against the Jews

Of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust of WWII, it is estimated that 3.5 million were exterminated by the Nazis in six killing camps located in Poland. The camps were Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and the best known one, Auschwitz-Birkenau. The round-up of the Polish Jews was aided and abetted by the anti-Semitic Polish population, who gleefully looted the homes and shops of the Jewish victims. The Poles, with few exceptions, were collaborators who served as Hitler's willing workers. History also records Polish pogroms against Jews after the war when survivors returned to look for their homes. Many were murdered mercilessly. Now, the Poles seem to be offended because they are linked to the Nazi death camps. Now Poland is "making it a crime to ascribe any responsibility for the Holocaust to the Polish state or the Polish people." This in itself is a crime, since no amount of Polish legislation can erase their guilt and complicity in this heinous stain on history.

Helen Freedman

Thumbs Up

Monday began with a thumbs down when New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) called on Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to take immediate action on what he stated is Facebook’s “shameful” exclusion of Israel. The ability to create a background profile gave users 50 country flag options. These options, he claimed, include Palestine, while Israel is conspicuously absent .

We are happy to report and applaud Assemblyman Hikind for his swift action on this shameful matter. Hikind expressed his appreciation Tuesday to senior Facebook officials for taking immediate corrective action after he alerted them to the exclusion of Israel as an option for one of the social media giant’s features.

Now Facebook users can choose the Israeli flag when creating a background profile.

This story courtesy of Arutz Sheva .

Rabbi Shevach Killer Found

The ringleader behind the Havat Gilad shooting of Rabbi Raziel Shevach last month, Ahmad Nasser Jarrar, was killed early Tuesday morning, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency announced.

Arutz Sheva report HERE .

AFSI CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Find More Events at Israel Advocacy Calendar

Saturday-February 10, 2018 @ 8 PM

KJ Conversations: Winning the Jewish Future Means Engaging Millenials with Rabbi Daniel Kaus and Aliza Kline

Admission free.

Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun 125 East 85th Street, NYC (between Lexington and Park Avenues)

Monday-February 19, 2018 @ 12 Noon

AFSI Will Lead a Protest Demonstration Against Mahmoud Abbas' Presence in the US and in NY as well as his February 20 address to the UN Security Council. Meet at the Isaiah Wall across from the United Nations, First Avenue and 44th Street.

Wednesday-February 14, 2018 @ 7:30 PM

AFSI IS PROUD TO SPONSOR Aharon Pulver, Executive Director of the Israel Independence Fund. Mr. Pulver will speak on "Thinking Out of the Box on Israel"

Simcha Rothman of Meshilut will be joining him. There will be a short talk on the incredible growth of the wine industry in Judea and Samaria followed by a wine tasting of the best of the Judea and Samaria wines.

West Side Institutional Synagogue 120 West 76th Street, NYC.

Thursday - February 15 to Monday - February 26, 2018

Ateret Cohanim Executive Director, Daniel Luria, will be in the US to raise funds and awareness for Jerusalem and Ateret Cohanim

Shabbat, February 17: Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, Kew Gardens Hill, NY

Sunday Evening, February 18: 75 Morristown Road, Elizabeth, NJ

Tuesday Evening, February 20: 926 Midway, Woodmere, NY

Wednesday, February 21: Harbour Islands, Hollywood, FL 8:00pm

Thursday, February 22 : Chabad of West Boynton, 9406 Boynton Beach Blvd. 7:30pm

Shabbat, February 24: Bal Harbour, FL

Other times available for a Jerusalem evening or meeting. Contact Daniel Luria direct.

Sunday - February 25, 2018 @ 5 PM - MIAMI, FLORIDA

AFSI IS PROUD TO SPONSOR Time for the Heart - An Evening of Spirituality to Benefit Makor Chaim

Experience the next stage of Geulah with Rav Dov Singer, Rosh Yeshiva; Yossi Baumol, Director of Development and Makor Chaim Exchange Students. Learn more about Makor Chaim . At the home of Laurie Moskowitz Hirsch 2440 NE 202nd Street, Miami, FL

Monday - February 26, 2018 - 6:45 PM - 9:30 PM

The KJ/Ramaz Community invites you to a panel discussion responding to rising levels of anti-Israel activity on our US campuses.

Opening Remarks by Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York

Panelists:

Shahar Azani - Executive Director, StandWithUs Northeast Region
Rena Nasar - Tri-State Campus Director for StandWithUs
Andrew Pessin – Professor of Philosophy at Connecticut College and Campus Bureau Editor for the Algemeiner
Jonathan Deluty '12 – IDF Veteran and Senior at Columbia University
Moderator - Shayna Estulin – Journalist with i24NEWS and co-host of “Crossroads”

Israeli Wine and sushi will be served. Doors open 6:45 pm. Panel discussion 7:30 pm. Admission free. RSVP HERE .

Ramaz Middle School 114 East 85th Street, NYC.

Thursday - March 8, 2018 @ 8 PM

Ambassador Ron Dermer in Conversation with Thane Rosenbaum

Ron Dermer, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, has risen to the challenge as an articulate and passionate defender of the Jewish state. Join FOLCS director Thane Rosenbaum for a wide-ranging and timely conversation with Ambassador Dermer. At the 92 ^nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC. Tickets from $35. Purchase tickets here .

Wednesday - March 14, 2018 @ 7 PM

Ben Gurion’s Epilogue: The Lost Interview

See the critically acclaimed film Ben Gurion, Epilogue and hear its improbable backstory. With Dr. Clinton Bailey, prominent anthropologist and interviewer of David Ben Gurion; Alon Ben Gurion, grandson of David Ben Gurion ; Yariv Mozer and Yael Perlov, filmmakers Moderated by Ambassador Ido Aharoni. Admission Free. Register Here . For more information contact info@emanuelstreickernyc.org

The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center - 1 East 65 ^th Street, NYC

Thursday - March 15, 2018 @ 6 PM

Helen Freedman Receives Aishes Chayil Award at National Council of Young Israel Dinner - Celebrating 70 Years of the State of Israel.

Guest of Honor - Anthony Scaramucci

6 PM - Elegant buffet dinner. 7:30 PM - Program- lavish Viennese Dessert.

Couvert: $500 per couple.

Special rates for AFSI members. Call AFSI - 212-828-2424 or write to: judy@afsi.org

Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows Park, NY

Tuesday - March 20, 2018 @ 6:30 PM

The Unlikely Nazi Hunters: A Rare Conversation with Serge and Beate Klarsfeld

Together, they tracked down Klaus Barbie—the “Butcher of Lyon”—and orchestrated his extradition to France, helped clinch the convictions of former Nazis and their collaborators and documented all 76,000 Jews deported from France. $36 General Admission; $18 Temple Members. Register Here .

The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center - 1 East 65 ^th Street, NYC

Spring 2018 - TBA - PHILADELPHIA, PA

The Philadelphia AFSI Chapter is planning to hold public events in 2018 around the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the State of Israel. If you would like to be involved with helping to coordinate these events please contact the Philadelphia Chapter at phillyafsi@gmail.com

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Mark Langfan | Chairman

Helen Freedman | Co-Executive Director

Judith Freedman Kadish | Co-Executive Director | judy@afsi.org

P. 212-828-2424 | F. 212-828-4538

www.afsi.org | info@afsi.org